In the 1980s our understanding of how advertising affects consumer behavior was undergoing a dramatic transformation. Recent theoretical and methodological advances in cognitive psychology, social cognition, and artificial intelligence were largely responsible for this transformation. These advances provided a better understanding of the information acquisition process and how information is stored in memory. Consequently, we have been able to incorporate memory, the processing of visual information and affect into our models of advertising effects. However, there were still many unanswered questions. Among these are: (1) Exactly what is the relationship between the different mediators of persuasion? (2) How is memory for advertising related to persuasion? (3) What are the theoretical underpinnings of attitude toward the advertisement? (4) What determines the effect of persuasion over time? (5) What factors affect attention to advertising? (6) What psychological processes occur during the watching of a television commercial? and (7) What factors affect individual differences in the processing of advertising messages? Originally published in 1985, the chapters in this volume provide insights into these questions. They are organized in terms of four psychological processes which contribute to our understanding of how advertising works. These are affective reactions to advertisements, persuasion, psychological processes during television viewing, and involvement.

In the 1980s our understanding of how advertising affects consumer behavior was undergoing a dramatic transformation. Recent theoretical and methodological advances in cognitive psychology, social cognition, and artificial intelligence were largely responsible for this transformation. These advances provided a better understanding of the information acquisition process and how information is stored in memory. Consequently, we have been able to incorporate memory, the processing of visual information and affect into our models of advertising effects. However, there were still many unanswered questions. Among these are: (1) Exactly what is the relationship between the different mediators of persuasion? (2) How is memory for advertising related to persuasion? (3) What are the theoretical underpinnings of attitude toward the advertisement? (4) What determines the effect of persuasion over time? (5) What factors affect attention to advertising? (6) What psychological processes occur during the watching of a television commercial? and (7) What factors affect individual differences in the processing of advertising messages? Originally published in 1985, the chapters in this volume provide insights into these questions. They are organized in terms of four psychological processes which contribute to our understanding of how advertising works. These are affective reactions to advertisements, persuasion, psychological processes during television viewing, and involvement.

Linda F. Alwitt and Thomas Donley's excellent new book reinvigorates the discussion of the major issues in this critical domain and provides creative and novel insights for their resolution. Through careful and imaginative analysis of secondary data, the authors challenge many stereotypes of the poor and provide a solid basis for fresh thinking about how to rebalance the inequities they face in their marketplace encounters. Their solutions draw imaginatively on experiences throughout the developing and developed worlds. This is a book that should be read by all concerned with the marketplace and its effects on its most vulnerable participants. --Alan R. Andreasen, Professor of Marketing & Associate Dean, Georgetown University Product, price, promotion, and place: These are the four areas in which marketing influences consumers. The Low-Income Consumer points out that poor consumers are at a distinct disadvantage in each of these areas. This innovative new book documents the imbalance of the exchange process by describing the business practice of those who market to poor consumers. Issues related to basic necessities--food, housing, and transportation are addressed--as well as the consumption of "sin" products by poor consumers. The problems faced by marketers who target low-income people, including the conflict between sound marketing practices, and marginally ethical or unethical applications of those practices are also examined. Individual chapters are devoted to how the poor manage their finances, how they learn about products from marketers, and how price discrimination and limited accessibility of goods and services affect poor consumers. The final section of the book presents a revised model of marketing exchange with poor consumers, and offers specific directions for a way in which the balance of exchange between marketers and low-income consumers can be adjusted. The Low-Income Consumer is a helpful resource for scholars and researchers in marketing, economics, social work, public policy, consumer policy, and consumer psychology. The book is also appropriate for students in marketing management, business ethics, sociology of the poor, economics of poverty, and public policy.

"Linda F. Alwitt and Thomas Donley's excellent new book reinvigorates the discussion of the major issues in this critical domain and provides creative and novel insights for their resolution. Through careful and imaginative analysis of secondary data, the authors challenge many stereotypes of the poor and provide a solid basis for fresh thinking about how to rebalance the inequities they face in their marketplace encounters. Their solutions draw imaginatively on experiences throughout the developing and developed worlds. This is a book that should be read by all concerned with the marketplace and its effects on its most vulnerable participants." --Alan R. Andreasen, Professor of Marketing & Associate Dean, Georgetown University Product, price, promotion, and place: These are the four areas in which marketing influences consumers. The Low-Income Consumer points out that poor consumers are at a distinct disadvantage in each of these areas. This innovative new book documents the imbalance of the exchange process by describing the business practice of those who market to poor consumers. Issues related to basic necessities--food, housing, and transportation are addressed--as well as the consumption of "sin" products by poor consumers. The problems faced by marketers who target low-income people, including the conflict between sound marketing practices, and marginally ethical or unethical applications of those practices are also examined. Individual chapters are devoted to how the poor manage their finances, how they learn about products from marketers, and how price discrimination and limited accessibility of goods and services affect poor consumers. The final section of the book presents a revised model of marketing exchange with poor consumers, and offers specific directions for a way in which the balance of exchange between marketers and low-income consumers can be adjusted. The Low-Income Consumer is a helpful resource for scholars and researchers in marketing, economics, social work, public policy, consumer policy, and consumer psychology. The book is also appropriate for students in marketing management, business ethics, sociology of the poor, economics of poverty, and public policy.